Thank you for the very thoughtful feedback! The jam is still on for a month, so I'd be keen to continue to improve this concept.
On the feedback:
- I agree there needs to be a clearer and more sustainable ecosystem cycle where food and waste are a little more manageable without players feeling overwhelmed when there are more than a few creatures in the tank at any one time. Thinking of ideas and will keep you posted!
- The fact some creatures can't really survive are sort of part of the game's novelty. Discovering emergent issues and features based on the genetics is what really drew me to this idea, and the fact some generate mouths that can't reach the surface is one of them! Maybe I'll include a gene editor that allows you to make a 'perfect' creature once you figure out what the genes do to become more sustainable.
- Yes, predation happens when a creature is desperate for food and cannot find any, and has certain features, such as claws or teeth, that allow them to attack nearby creatures for food. Under a more sustainable approach, this would be more rare flavor to the game rather than causing frustration.